Your Region Pod – Détails, épisodes et analyse

We’ve got snow in the forecast, and we thought this would be a good time to peek behind the scenes and meet the people who clear our roads in the winter. 

Heavy snow can cause dangerous road conditions, and there is a highly dedicated team of plow operators and patrollers who make our roads safer. The services they provide ensure that first responders can get to an emergency, and hydro crews can fix broken power lines. They're a fascinating group, and we're excited to introduce you to them and how they make it happen.

You can stay informed on local weather events and sign up for Alert Waterloo Region. This service allows residents to receive important public safety messages in the event of large-scale emergencies such as floods, severe weather, or significant power outages. Notifications can be delivered to landlines, mobile phones, and email.

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The federal government continues to work with provincial governments to fund more child care spaces across the country in an effort to reduce child care costs to $10 a day. On this episode of Your Region Pod, we’re going to look at the impact of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system (CWELCC) on families in Waterloo Region. 

So far, 3,725 spaces have opened through CWELCC, with another 411 coming by the end of 2026. The question is, now that we have the funding for these spaces, do we have enough educators to staff them? 

On this episode we sit down with experts from across the region and learn that as critical as this funding is, it only solves half the problem. Have a listen and let us know what you think on our social channels.

 Joining us on this episode:

• Barb Cardow, Director of Children`s Services, Region of Waterloo
• Kristine Parsons, Director of Operations, Rising Oaks Early Learning Ontario
• Carolyn Finlayson, Chair, Child Development & Education Studies, Conestoga College

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With a growing waitlist for housing, it's never been more critical to build affordable homes in our community. This summer, the first-ever Housing Summit was hosted in Waterloo Region with the purpose of creating home grown solutions for accessible housing, and we decided to cover the event for Your Region Pod. 

At the Summit, local government connected with housing providers, developers, community leaders, and visionaries. Participants showed up to exchange ideas on how to plan, fund, and build affordable homes. They also took the opportunity to explore some pretty innovative solutions to help get shovels in the ground.

On this episode, we hear from the participants and learn what is possible. It was a fascinating day. We hope that our coverage of this event provides some insight on the complexities of the issue, and more about the solutions that are being explored. 

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter Around The Region on our website.

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It's been a busy Summer - and in case you missed it - in this episode we recap the decisions made at Regional Council:

1.  General Contractor to create 136-unit affordable housing in Cambridge
2.  Bike lanes coming to Benton and Frederick Streets
3.  New paramedic station coming to Cambridge
4.  Cart-based waste collection for downtown businesses
5.  Region of Waterloo investing $225,000 in local festivals and events
6.  Region of Waterloo pledges funds to support e-sports event 
7.  Region to receive $18M in infrastructure funds
8.  Council endorses rail link from Cambridge to Guelph 
9.  Region to review its Taxi By-law

Check out our monthly newsletter Making Decisions The Matter on our website to learn more about these decisions and others that impact our community.

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

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Have you ever been sitting on the bus, or ION, and wondered what goes into your daily commute? Who are the people who get you to your destination, and what has to happen to get you there on time? 

In this episode of #YourRegionPod, ride along with Sherry and Sam as they take you behind the scenes of public transit. We'll meet the people who make it happen, and hear their stories. Like what made September 5, 2023 so unforgettable, and how it could happen again.

Tune in to find out!

Get Your Region Pod anywhere you stream your podcasts. 

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

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In Part 2 of our series on chronic homelessness in Waterloo Region, we explore the three main causes of homelessness through two voices - criminologist Dr. Erin Dej from Wilfrid Laurier, and Marjorie, an advocate who’s lived through it, and now helps those who are struggling.

This episode is a helpful reminder that in order to prevent and end chronic homelessness, we must look beyond the individual and relational factors to the bigger issues that we can all have a role in addressing.

Get Your Region Pod anywhere you stream your podcasts. 

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

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Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

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It's been a busy June - and in case you missed it - in this episode we recap the decisions made at Regional Council:

1.  Fischer-Hallman/Bearinger Road improvements start in July
2.  Victoria Street design alternative will improve cycling facilities
3.  Council creating more efficiencies in housing development process
4.  Council supports six entrepreneurial initiatives 
5.  Council supports 16 stewardship and sustainability projects
6.  Council supports 10 major arts and culture organizations 
7.  Council calls on province for funding to address substance use and harms
8.  Independent consultant to review Council remuneration, with public input 
9.  Region requesting inclusion in federal wastewater surveillance program

Check out our monthly newsletter Making Decisions The Matter on our website to learn more about these decisions and others that impact our community.

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

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Chronic homelessness is growing across The Region, and it has reached a crisis point for many communities across the country. In Waterloo Region, it is estimated to have increased at a rate of 28 percent, year-over-year since 2020. Why is this happening? And what are we doing about it?

Your Region Pod  is working on a series that explores the history behind long term homelessness, the causes, and the plan to end it. What does it mean for our community, and what will it take to achieve this goal?

We will hear from the people who have experienced homelessness, the academics who study it, and the key players who are working to address the crisis here in The Region.

Our first episode, The State of Chronic Homelessness in The Region. How did we get here?  will try to provide some context on how we got here. 

Get Your Region Pod anywhere you stream your podcasts. 

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook

Among the decisions made at Regional Council this month:

• Council approves Plan to End Chronic Homelessness 
• Region creates opportunities for culturally responsive child care 
• Grand River Transit reinstates late night transit service for students 
• Yearbook shares progress on community priorities
• Council approves contractor for Bleams Road improvements 
• Region extends lower speed on Swan Street in North Dumfries
• Region to hire project manager to work on MobilityPLUS scheduling upgrades
•  Region to consider truck ban in downtown Ayr due to community concerns

Check out the podcast to learn more about these decisions and others that impact our community.

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook

The Neuron Mobility program is back for users in Waterloo Region who rely on it – and it’s benefiting the rest of the community too.  In this episode of Your Region Pod, we explore the success of the e-scooter and e-bike sharing program, and how the Region is working with its partners to connect greener ways of getting around.

Riders can download Neuron’s mobile app from the App Store or Google Play and get set up to ride in a matter of minutes. The app can also be used to locate available vehicles. For more information on the program, visit www.rideneuron.com/canada. For rules for riding and how-to-ride information, visit scootsafe.com and select Waterloo Region.

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook